(Ottawa) – The Canadian Red Cross is thanking the Government of Canada for its decision to match donations made to charitable organizations in support of relief efforts in the Sahel region of West Africa.
“Humanitarian assistance is urgently needed as more than 18 million people across the Sahel region are suffering a food crisis, and up to 23 million are at risk if the crisis continues” says Hossam Elsharkawi, director of emergencies and recovery at the Canadian Red Cross. “Canadian Red Cross personnel have been working on the ground since early this year to manage relief operations for vulnerable communities across the region.”
The Government of Canada will match the donations of individual Canadians between August 7 and September 30, 2012. Those funds will go into a relief fund that is separate from the Canadian Red Cross and will be administered by the Government of Canada. Funds raised through this program will support on-going humanitarian assistance in food crisis-affected communities in the Sahel.
“Canadians have consistently shown their compassion in times of crisis around the world,” adds Elsharkawi. “We hope the Government of Canada’s announcement will motivate more Canadians to support humanitarian relief efforts in vulnerable communities affected by drought, population movements, and food crisis in the Sahel.”
Canadians wishing to make a financial donation may give online at www.redcross.ca, call 1-800-418-1111 or contact their local Canadian Red Cross office. Cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Red Cross, earmarked "West Africa Food Crisis" and mailed to the Canadian Red Cross National Office, 400 Cooper Street, Suite 8000, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2H8. Additional information on the Government of Canada matching program is available at www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/.
The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and over 187 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Our mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.